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The Lake Garda Bike Path

Heather Dowd
Posted by Heather Dowd on Jan 5, 2022 2:54:53 PM
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I originally wrote this blog about the Lake Garda Bike Path back in 2018 when the the first (and most ambitious) section of the path was finished, about two kilometers long. By the end of 2021, the 140-km (87-mile) path around the lake was supposed to be completed. Details can be found here: Lake Garda Bike Path.

So now, halfway through 2023, how much of the path is complete? According to the website above, the bike path is now expected to be completed "by 2026," and does not indicte that any more of the path has been built. It further says that the path does not yet reach the town of Riva del Garda. 

Beppe and I most recently visited Lake Garda at the end of 2021 to see for ourselves.

 Check out our tour calendar for inspiration of where to ride.

The Lake Garda bike Path

Lake Garda Bike Path 2022

There’s still a long way to go before the project is fully funded and finished. As of the beginning of 2022, only the original two kilometers of the floating path are complete. 

If you'd like, you can see what the entire 2 km. path looks like in this video of me riding it:

 

The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful, and when there are few people it is quite enjoyable.

The path can get quite crowded with people, however. It's mixed-use, so cyclists and pedestrians are allowed to be on it. People often stop to take photos. You have to ride slowly (speed limit is 10 km/6.2 miles an hour) and watch out for those not paying attention, as well as small children and pets.

Getting to this stretch of patch is also difficult. There is no sidewalk, and riders have to use the same narrow road (complete with tunnels and blind turns) that vehicles use, as shown in this short clip that I took on the way to the path:

 

You could drive there, like Beppe and I did; just be aware that parking is extremely limited. We actually parked in an unloading zone and Beppe stayed with the car while I road the path.

The project has the potential to become a huge driver for cycle tourism on Lake Garda once it is finished. Until then, be careful. Better yet, book a cycling tour in Italy with us! We take care of all of the details and scout routes that are scenic and with less traffic.

Original Blog Post from 2018

Lake Garda is Italy’s largest lake and enjoys a privileged position at the foothills of the Dolomites. A stay on Lake Garda combines breathtaking mountain views with a mild, mediterranean climate. It’s also a popular destination for cyclists, who can now enjoy the first section of a stunning bike path that once (if) complete will circle the entire lake.

garda bike path                     © ATT - Società d'ingegneria (all photos)

In July 2018 the first two kilometers of the Ciclopista di Garda (Garda Bike Path) opened in the town of Limone sul Garda. The path, which when finished will be 140 kilometers, floats 50 meters above the water and is 2.6 meters wide. It is already being described as the “most beautiful bike path in the world” for its incredible views of the mountains and the water.

garda bike path 2

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It’s also remarkable for its engineering. For the first section, harnesses, cables and even helicopters had to be used to hook the thin wooden and steel walkway to the rocky walls of the mountain. Steel struts inserted six meters into the mountainside and protruding outward for 2.6 meters sustain the track. Large sections of the mountainside were covered with wire netting to prevent rockslides.  

This first completed section took two years to construct and cost 7 million Euros. Estimated completion is the year 2021 at a cost of 102 million Euros. Once complete, the path will bring tourism to more remote villages along the route and will traverse three regions of Italy (Trentino, Veneto and Lombardy).

 

garda bike path 3

 The path is open to pedestrians and cyclists and is completely separated from traffic.  It is open 24 hours a day and is lit at night.

 

 

Many people have asked us if our Lake Garda to Venice Lagoon bike tour goes on the path. We actually start in a different section of the lake and so until the path is finished it won't be part of the tour. There are, however, many beautiful paths that we travel on this tour, as you can see in the above video.

Go to Lake Garda to Venice Lagoon

 

Topics: Destinations, Cycling

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